Ingrown Toenail Infection Remedies

An ingrown toenail penetrates the skin around the toe. This painful condition can lead to infection if not treated properly. If infected, the skin around the nail will become red and inflamed. If left untreated, pus may form and drain around the inflamed skin and under the toenail. Tight shoes, improper cutting of the nail and the shape of the nail all are factors in the development of an ingrown toenail.

Home Treatment

Though severe ingrown toenails and subsequent infections will need treatment from a doctor, there are some home remedies you can perform that may relieve symptoms and fix the nail. Attempting to dig out the ingrown nail is not recommended, as it may further chances of infection. Epsom salts have an anti-inflammatory effect, which will lessen inflammation of the skin surrounding the toe. As the skin becomes less inflamed, you may be able to cut out the ingrown section.

Basic Treatment

If pain or infection persists, see a podiatrist. The doctor will treat both the issue of the ingrown nail and the infection. Antibiotics will most likely clear up the infection after the doctor has removed the small part of the nail penetrating the skin. After the procedure, which may or may not require a local anesthetic, the doctor will advise you to dress the area and clean it up with an antiseptic for a few days to keep the infection away.

Recurrent Treatment

Since one of the major risk factors of an ingrown toenail is the shape of the nail, it is common for the condition to return. Changing nail cutting habits may prevent this from happening. But if the problem persists, you may have to see a podiatrist on a regular basis. The doctor can cut your nails during the visit in a manner that keeps the skin from being penetrated.

Surgery

Sometimes a podiatrist will have to remove a good chunk of the toenail if the problem persists. On occasion, the doctor will remove an entire half of the nail to keep it from growing in curved. If the infection or the curve is serious, the doctor may take off the entire nail. Since the nail will grow back after it is removed, you will need to see the doctor again and he will use acid or a laser to keep it from growing back.

Complications

It is important that to treat an in-grown toenail. If the infection is left to fester, it can infect the bones of the toe, which can lead to an even more serious bone infection. Sometimes a foot ulcer can grow on the site of infection. These are quite serious because they can become gangrenous and, in a worst case scenario, lead to an amputation of the foot.